Most people get kittens, but advantages of adopting adult cat (I just adopted 2 year old) include that their personality is formed and you know what you are getting and less people adopt them so you are helping a cat find a home which might not otherwise.
I am only adopting senior cats. It’s very rewarding to take a senior out of a shelter and give it love and a permanent home. I plan to get my next this month.
One advantage of getting a Kitten though is that their personality is more malleable. They will more or less adapt to you personally as they grow up. Training is a similar issue. Adult cats will know more to begin with, but kittens will be easier to train. An adult cat might already prefer scratching couches for example, or they might already be traumatized of cages and vets, or god forbid they have already been free to roam outside
Well, you can help form a kitten - adult cats are already set in their ways, so I get why people like kittens (not to mention they are cute, until they grow up)
Boy was this video an eye-opener. As cute and fun as they are, the poop throughout the house incident, the expense (food AND Vet), the damage they can cause all the way down to brushing their teeth twice a day...I mean good God. Really good video people should watch before they bring a cat home - especially if you're single and don't have disposable income. I learned, at least for me, there's no way I could manage all that. Who knew? It's just way too much. Thanks for the tips/warnings.
Omg, I think I got a heart attack after seeing the vet bill! It is so crazy how insanely high the prices are in the USA. I am from Europe and for an X-ray you pay 35 USD and for preventative care 22 USD. If something more severe and needs surgery and overnight stay, it costs around 270 USD to 366 USD. the price differences are so crazy.
Giuliana wow those are really good prices! Yeah unfortunately everything medical related in the US is super pricey. You always pray you don’t have to see the doctor :(
@@TheCatButler oh wow I really had no idea! Thank you for sharing this I think it's also educational for people outside of US. It definitely gave me some perspective. Have a good day and take care!
I was so excited to get a cat or 2 kittens but after seeing the cost of care, I'm thinking about it a bit more. I have never owned a cat so this video was very educational.
I'd definitely get two kittens instead of one if I was not dependent on my parents. It was already very hard to convince my parents to get a kitten so getting a second one is out of the question. I always dream of a time when I live in my own house and have more than one cat. According to them it might be lesser work, but it's double the money...
It is true, the food cost will be double. Unfortunately it is best to have cats when you’re already financially independent, otherwise you can adopt an adult cat - they have already learned their manners 😊
Our kitty of 15 years died in Dec 2022. She was randomly throwing up- and sometimes had some blood in her poop. I took pictures and she was given xrays, and we took blood panels. After many different types of cat food, fresh food and probiotic canned food, nothing seemed to help. I wish I had given her an endoscopy to really see what was going on, My vet never recommended that to me. We have been devasted and I think her quick and turbulent death could have been avoided. Just remember to get a second opinion, I trusted my Vet- of 40 years through 6 animals. They died of old age and age related issues.
Hey Andrea thank you for sharing your story! I am sorry to hear the passing of your cat. I agree that an endoscopy would have been a great idea to see where the blood in the poop was from. I wish you the best!
Your cats are gorgeous and you take really good care of them. We had cats when I was growing up and it's amazing how much has changed over the last 30 years with cat ownership. I have 2 girls that are domestic short hair tabbies. I was persuaded to take them as they were the last 2 of the litter and no-one wanted them because females are more expensive to desex. I am glad I took both of them because even as kittens they were very close. The costs difference for desexing was relatively minor in the overall cost of having cats. In Melbourne, Australia a landlord can't unreasonably refuse tenants having pets. If they do refuse they must have a valid reason. I am also fortunate to have a community vet where prices are reasonable. Desexing about USD 100.00 each and it was about USD 150.00 each for all of their vaccinations as kittens. I did FIV and cat flu which increased the cost. I pay USD 40 every 3 months for their fleas/worming/heartworm treatment. They are coming up for their 1st annual check up and vaccination next month. I have been fortunate that I have only had one unexpected vet visit which was around USD 40.00 and nothing was seriously wrong. I was concerned and I wanted the vet to check on them over, just to be safe. My 2 girls are a little bit spoilt with cat trees in most rooms and 2 huge plastic tubs of cat toys. I am studying from home at present so they get plenty of play time and cuddles. A friend has an older cat and a kitten from the previous litter and 3 or 4 times a year I stay at her house to mind her cats while she is away. I have done this since they were little and they always enjoy a trip to see their "brother".
Tracy thanks for sharing your story! Loved reading it. Love australia and having been there I have found anything medical related to be priced more friendly. Glad your two girls are doing so well! You are an angel to them!
The thing I wish I knew . That the free kitten has cost me $ 500.00 dollars in the 3 weeks we have her and there will be more costs still to come. But the thing that I now know is she makes me very HAPPY! ❤😊
If the vet prices are expensive in your area, you should consider pet insurance. In my country it's a must. However, it doesn't cover the basic vaccinations or neutering. Most expensive are the first years, though! Later you will know better what your cat likes and needs.
Your videos are great! I had 2 Ragdolls for 14 years and sadly they are both over the rainbow bridge. I am going to become the parent of 2 new Ragdoll babies in a few days. Your videos are a great reminder of what I need to do and things to do differently this time. Thank you!
Man, I wish I could give my future cats raw diet but sadly, I'm a 14-year-old and live with my parents. Before that, we were feeding our cats dry food, and Jackson Galaxy said any wet food is better than the best dry food. So, I hope this wet food keeps us going till I live with my parents.
I so enjoy your channel! I just picked up another Ragdoll… Your cats are both beautiful… I would love to share some photos of my boys. There both from the same mom and dad, just different litters…..There the best, love them beyond words…. Thank you for sharing.❤❤❤ Tom Long Island NY
I have only one female cat, one of the most important things I read was if you hurt your cat while playing he is very likely to hurt you too. When she was giving me a bite that was hurtful I was hissing to her or screaming an Ouch and stopping the play. My partner plays with her more roughly so she will bite him strongly that she bites me.
I wish I knew about raw feeding when I first got Pangur. He's been on raw food since he was 5 months old. I also wish I knew about getting two cats! Pangur was 9 months old before we got Nuadha. Pangur does not know good manners! He doesn't bite but will slap me to get my attention. Our raggies, Artemis and Helios, love each other and play together and have lovely manners. Helios is looking much more like your babies, now. I can't believe he's 12 months old! Both Pangur and Helios love to "help" when we are doing a batch of food.
I agree with you. However, bathing Cleo will not happen without me losing the fight 😁 And true, their personality changes over time. She doesn't like to have her nails anymore. I recently bought a pair of pet gloves! By the way, it's the same bell I bought for Cleo. 😁 There were a lot of things I didn't know about cats before I got Cleo. I fed her kibbles because I thought that was their food. It certainly was very convenient, but it didn't take long before I switched to homemade raw. I also didn't know that they were like toddlers. You have to teach them no no no no no .... and no. Also, I didn't know that they needed to play! I had sleepless nights the first week I got Cleo! She wanted to play in the middle of the night! She also tried to wake me up! 😆 🤣 😂 😹 Now we have our play routines. She lets me know which games she wants, too! Over time she's become more vocal! Surprisingly, I kinda understand what she's trying to say, like, she wants some treats on her food puzzle plate, or she wants the door opened, and of course, when she wants to play. She gets upset when I use my phone or my tablet too much! 😄 I talk to her, and it's as if she understands. Haha... crazy cat lady, huh!
These are great tips! I know how traumatic it can be having your little baby escape. I had one too many close calls with my little yorkie. I still have nightmares about it
Hi! I really like your videos and I wanted to ask if you maybe would like to post a video about the expenses of two cats/ ragdolls. (food (especially with a raw meat diet), insurance, toys, etc.) 💗When me and my boyfriend move in together we actually want get two ragdolls as well. So naturally I'm very interested in this
Great work developing a diet that is healthy and high quality, making great efforts to do so making it yourself. Very informative although getting consistent information such as dry food not being good for cats when veterinarians recommend some specialty health oriented dry food brands brands such as IAMS in flavors and types for cat age condition to augment meat and wet foods. Also cat health insurance is a nice option since serious matters can crop up as did a few times over decades with cats. I have been without vats for the first time in decades the past 9 months and living alone now think it is a good time to make the move although concerned being away for work for up to 2 to 3 days once or twice a month may require someone to come in to feed and provide fresh water.
I know! I had a bad experience with dogs and we spent over at least 100! Prices are crazy and searching for a house will be a nightmare when I’m old enough :(
woah... actually a good informative video on cats and cat care? lets gooo! i would, however, as someone whose financial situation has changed drastically repeatedly since I first got my cats, and as someone who has adopted cats from multiple age ranges, there are a few long-winded additions id like to add if that's okay! 1. if you already have pets, you should NOT introduce new cats/kittens right away. there are proper ways to do it slowly and safely, and you should follow those instructions carefully. google how to introduce cats, and you'll be just fine adopting a new cat or kitten when you already have pets (though keep in mind, there are many cases of peoples dogs killing their cats, even if the cats and dogs have grown up together as almost no one has professionally-trained dogs, and even the most well-trained dog in the world can still have a moment of surprise or excitement or aggression that could result in them hurting and/or killing a cat, so bringing a cat/cats home when you already have dogs requires constant supervision and extra care taken during the introduction phase, and if the introduction is done right and still isn't progressing safely, then rehoming the cat should occur for the safety of the cat. do NOT force introduction and do NOT keep animals that hiss and fight with each other) 2. while feeding raw food diets is obviously the best, it's important to know that you absolutely can raise a healthy cat even on cheaper foods, and you shouldn't feel like less of a pet parent just because you can't afford the absolute best. however, making sure you're taking care of them in the ways you can by investing more time or effort is what's important if you can't feed them a more expensive diet. for example, giving your cats a mix of dry and wet foods can help with their water intake, but they still might need more water. investing in a water fountain can be helpful because cats often like to drink from running water sources, so a fountain can encourage them to drink more! do note that a water fountain does come with its own costs: you have to clean them and all their little parts very well every week at the longest, and water fountains have filters that have to be replaced often, but if you choose to go with a water fountain then it MUST be done because water fountains and their filters will quickly get grimy, grow mold, and host dirt and bacteria that will get your cats sick. additionally, dry food actually doesn't help remove tartar buildup, so it's even more important to brush their teeth if you're feeding them a dry/wet/mix diet. brushing your cats' teeth is good practice in general, as mentioned in the video, but it's important to note why it should be an even bigger priority when your cat has a cheaper diet. (also side note about food and water bowls: wash them OFTEN. dirty bowls can be one of the reasons cats may see "cat acne" on their chins. it's not the only reason, but it is a reason to look out for!) 3. Don't lie to your landlord about having pets. if something were to go wrong with your house when you're not home, it could be very dangerous for your pets if your landlord or the people you live with don't know you have pets. having a pet, especially a little cat, is so lovely and makes us so happy, but it's not worth the risk to your pet's life to keep them a secret. also, if your lease doesn't allow pets, you could get evicted, which is bad for you AND your furry ones. I personally do not agree with how strict landlords are with rejecting pet owners (and I don't think they should be allowed to charge extra for pets as children and babies often will cause more damage to a residence, yet it'd obviously be insane to charge people extra if they have a child), but our personal feelings won't change the reality of renting as it currently is. so fuck landlords, but keep you, your wallet, others, and especially your pets safe by NOT hiding them. 4. there is no such thing as an 'outdoor cat,' and your cats should always be indoor cats. this doesn't mean your cats should never be allowed to go outside- definitely not! but cats that go outside should always be SUPERVISED, don't just open the door to let your cat out as that is EXTREMELY irresponsible. cats have impacted and heavily contributed to the extinction of more than 60 animal species. outdoor cats also spread more diseases and parasites, which can be brought home to infect you and other pets you have. It's also more likely for outdoor cats to be severely injured or killed by any number of things like wild animals, feral or stray cats, dogs, machinery, road traffic, or even other humans. but you CAN let your cat experience the outdoors in ways that are great for your cat and also keeps your baby and the environment safe. firstly make sure you ALWAYS get pets fixed and get them fixed EARLY (vets widely agree that getting pets fixed under 5 months of age is safer than above 5 months and it comes with long-term health benefits). second, make sure your cat is always vaccinated, AND let your vet know that even though your cat goes outside supervised they can ensure your cat gets the proper vaccinations associated with being outdoors. third, if you do not have the time to adapt your cat to a harness and take them outside for walks (or you don't live somewhere where it would be safe) then you can try getting a 'catio' or a bay window. you should still make sure your cat wears a collar when going outside with your info on it, as detailed in the video, and that collar should ALWAYS be a tear-away collar. these collars are easier to snap or get out of, which may prevent the collar from getting snagged/caught on something which can cause your cat to get stuck or choke. multiple layers of protection is always best- a microchip, a GPS tracker, and a tear-away collar with your information on it may seem like too much, but your cats are like your babies. it's normal and encouraged to make sure you're thinking preventatively rather than lamenting what you didn't do when something goes wrong. 5. either make sure you have enough litter boxes or be EXTRA diligent in taking care of them if you don't have the space! in general, assume you should have 2 litter boxes for one cat, and add 1 box for every additional cat. if you can't have that many boxes, then you need to clean them more often. cleaning litter boxes often is good practice for many reasons, other than just making sure your cat has a clean place to use the bathroom. cleaning the litter often helps eliminate the smell (as cat poop and litter doesn't actually smell that bad or stink up an entire house if you're taking care of it), allows you to frequently check on the health of your cats (as you can tell a LOT about a cats condition from the size, color, consistency, and smell of your cat's feces and urine), and provides you a sense of mind in knowing your cats will most likely not end up pooing or peeing anywhere else. how often you should clean the litter varies by the type used, how many cats you have, and how many boxes you have. if you're ever unsure of how often to replace the type of litter you use, read the bag/container your litter comes in, and consider how often it seems like your boxes should be cleaned according to your own number of litter boxes vs cats. if you follow the directions on your litter and find you can smell the urine and feces before their recommended changing time, then clean it sooner. also, try to avoid litter with scents added to them. they might seem better for YOUR nose, but they can bother cats quite a lot, and sometimes the added smell to litter can turn cats away from using the litter box entirely. ANYWAYYY... this is stupidly long, and odds are nobody will ever read any (let alone all) of this, but I've been raising my 4 (!!! I know, trust me, I know) cats of different ages in different environments (with + without dogs, in a large multi-story home, in a small and cramped one story home, in a single bedroom when I was at my worst, with children, with the elderly, with strangers, etc.) and jumping between different financial brackets since my mom randomly brought home our first set of kittens when I was 10, so I've learned a lot and researched a LOT. I'm severely mentally ill and can barely take care of myself, yet... I still put all my energy and love into taking care of my boys, my sweet cats who are the only reason I can sometimes manage to push myself into eating or showering. The love and happiness they give me is something I wish everyone could experience in their lives, even if they don't get that feeling from cats. It's the way my cats unintentionally have ended up caring for ME simply by being around for me to take care of THEM that makes me so enthused to write out THIS many paragraphs of info just to add onto a video that already detailed a ton of important information on cats and their care.
also your cats are SO beautiful!!! they're flame point ragdolls, which makes me so happy because my 2 siamese cats i adopted as siblings (just they like your sweeties!) ALSO happen to be flame point! thank you for posting so many informative AND cute videos of your angels, they are just too cute (and smart to boot, ringing those bells! do they ever drive you crazy with them? lmao)
Savannah WOW! So much good information! Thank you for posting so others can learn about it too. Took me awhile to read all of it and I agree with all your points. So well written! I can tell you go above and beyond for your kitties. You are an angel to them! Thank you! And actually I loveee when they ring the bell! Not bothered at all. Arya gives that look....give me....give me that treat haha
I would like to know about the tree looking one. I already found the modern looking one on your web site. :D Would greatly appriciate the info. :) @@TheCatButler
A "pet fee' is illegal in Calif, and I don't think it's ethical. It's illegal (info from a relator) because the apt is not rented-out to your pet but yourself. I have paid a "pet deposit" twice which is reasonable.
oh hmm, yeah so my landlord charged a pet fee and a pet rent, a fee upfront and a fee per month :(. I encountered it majority of the time. A pet deposit would make more sense
Yeah everything in the us is quite expensive and requires insurance. Most of the time if you don’t have human heath insurance and get really sick it can bankrupt you if you don’t have a lot of money :(
Hi! I recently discovered your channel and I’m trying to convince my parents to get me a cat. I have a dog already though. Do you think that a ragdoll cat would get along with my dog easily? (She’s a chocolate Labrador)
Strange, I don't think that good breeders sell kittens without chips (at least not in Germany), they are simply included in the cat-purchase, alongside all vaccinations, health checks etc.
Hi can you make a video explaining the process of selecting the breeder? I want to purchase a ragdoll as well but its confusing finding the right breeder!
My wife and I love your videos! We live in the San Francisco area and we're currently looking to adopt a couple Ragdolls. Do you have any recommendations? We both have owned cats through the years and your videos have helped us prepare for a Ragdoll.
Hey Matty glad you enjoy the videos! are you looking to buy in the bay area or are open to breeders a little bit outside the area? The ones outside the bay tend to be cheaper. I flew to Seattle to pick up Teemo and Arya. Here is their breeder: ragdollsea.com/. Lucia is their sister
@@TheCatButler we live in the east bay and we're always willing to travel. We drive up to Seattle once or twice a year to visit friends so that's no problem at all haha. We loved the video when you went on a trip up there with Teemo and Arya.
@Matty-Ice I see ok. so the bay area there are some, but are almost $1,000 more expensive in general in my experience and I didn't fully vet them. Besides my breeder there is this one - www.kimuradolls.com/available She plans to move back to the bay area soon, but she produces some of the best ragdolls and really makes sure they are super healthy. Hope that helps!
My old man cat passed a couple months ago and im now starting to think about getting a kitten. I want to feed them raw, what do people do when they go on vacation? I dont have someone who can show up daily to continue with the raw.
Hey I’m sorry to hear your cat passed. So you could do two things. Hire a cat sitter to come daily which is what I do, or a reputable cat hotel that can feed your cat raw while you are away. Let me know if that helps! You can check this video out as well: What to Do with Your Cat When You Go on Vacation | The Cat Butler ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Et15FkaZbks.html
I've always wanted to be a landlord. My main rule would be that cat owners get a discount because of pest control. I'm not paying for pest control because cats do that naturally. So why not give a discount
So it depends on where you live and what brand and what pet insurance plan you choose. But i chose the preventative plus accidental plan (the best plan they have) so it was roughly 40 per month. Here is a more in depth video about pet insurance: How to Find the Best Pet Insurance for Cats and Dogs | The Cat Butler ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-gfRwOyG4lmk.html
Dear Cat Butler, I acquired a white Ragdoll a week ago. The litter I’m using recommended by the breeder is some sort of dark sand. The grains of dark sand stay in the cat’s hair, especially when his hair is wet. It is so much trouble to clean the sand off the hair. What litter do you use? Thank you!
My cat just got killed on my front porch by some kind of predator / coyote /owl or raccoon . They will come right on your porch 😢💔KEEP CATS INDOORS ONLY 🙏🏻
@@TheCatButler His father came from South Wales, his mother from the United States. He looks so much like Teemo it's uncanny. He is the first and only cat I ever bought from a breeder because I couldn't find a ragdoll in the shelters after months of looking for one. Now I get why you don't see this breed in shelters. They are amazing cats!
@@gigiartstudiowithartistvir3919 oh that is awesome! it is possible they are indeed related. Teemo and Arya are from Seattle. But yeah its almost impossible to find a ragdoll in the shelter. I am glad you got one :)
@@TheCatButler He saved my day to day existence because little did I know at the time that a pandemic would hit. I would have been totally isolated and going crazy if it weren't for him.
My gf's kitten is 4 months old and while she didn't bite as much as first, now she bites quite a lot when playing (my feet, hands, etc); she is a ragdoll and she loves to (play) hunt. How can I fix this behaviour? Also, where can I buy that tree(literal)house? I'm getting my own kitten soon and I would love him to have it
@@TheCatButler it’s beautiful. I would be interested in purchasing a replica if you’re interested in proposing it to your designer. Maybe a new work venture for you. You would make many many cats and people happy. I have 5 rescue cats.
would love to make your cats happy, but unfortunately the designer I worked with to bring it to life went out of business due to the pandemic. I am thinking in the future of adding this cat tree to the store. I will have to figure out how to make it at a decent price.
Hey Diane Nulo wet food is good. so I haven't thoroughly vet dry food, but the wet food brands I like include: 1. Smalls: Lowest amount of carbs, high-quality animal protein - www.smalls.com/human-grade-fresh 2. Wellness CORE Wet Cat Food: Pate wet food - prf.hn/l/vyAX2q2 3. Raised Right Pets: www.raisedrightpets.com/product/human-grade-cat-food/full-box-16-bags/ Hope that helps! Ranked according to preference.
Hi Im thinking about getting a cat(s) for a long time. Is it possible to have cats even as someone with low income? Im worried that I can't afford those vet bills and I don't want to neglect my cat's health. Is it really that expensive to own cats as pets? Im unsure what to do. What do you (guys) think?
If i adopt 2 kittens from the same litter from a shelter or a breeder will they only have a bond/ spend time together or will they want to spend time/love me? I really don’t know what to do😏 I have heard that adopting 2 is good if it’s from the same litter so they are siblings I’m living in a small apartment alone and could use some companionship. So is it better to get one kitten so it spents time with me only and not its sibling?
Hey that’s a good question. In my opinion adopting siblings is better as there is a better chance they get along. But in terms of companionship, you will see that both cats will want to spend time with you. And getting two won’t have them ignore you. My cats always want to cuddle and sit on my lap for reference. And it’s what I hear and see from other cat owners with multiple cats as well!
It’s all preference. You can’t go wrong with either. Only difference is males are bigger than females. Me personally I wanted a male and female and it has turned out well!
I've tried meat and the cats won't eat it much. They are 7 months old and really like dry and also the little soups or stews by delectables and friskies
@@shanggosteen9804 Not a good idea! Research. Dry food is bad for cats! They should be eating wet food at worst, raw food is the best. Don't just give your cat dry food!
I appreciate the informative tips here, but I don't think it's financially feasible for cat owners to exclusively serve a raw meat or wet food diet. I know some people who buy expensive quality dry food and also include wet food on a daily basis. It seems those cats in the video even eat better than me!
The carb is a concern, yes. But another arguably bigger concern is their water intake. Many cats don't get thirsty as much as they descend from desert dwelling ancestors, so feeding them wet or raw food can give them the much needed liquid intake boost
No one talks about the stress of having a cat with health issues. The pain of seeing an animal suffering, constantly cleaning up vomit, spending hundreds of dollars for vet visits / exams trying to figure out what's wrong , etc. It can truly make you miserable. I will never get another pet.
Wish I knew cats could develop mental illnesses. In middle school I had a cat who was a terror. I made jokes, I loved her. There’s “911 I need to report owner abuse” and reverse whack-a-mole where she sprung out from under my bed, bite me and be right back under the bed before I notice anything happened. I’d just feel the sting and itch of the cuts and blood she left me with. As a kitten she was so cuddly but over the course of 5 years she grew demonic. Her teeth alone almost took my eye. She had her own room at night because I was afraid of her after she went berserk on me outta nowhere. Having friends over I told them to not enter her room but 2 didn’t listen and once me and the others got settled I heard a demonic screech and my friends rushing to my room calling her the spawn of Satan (they knew she was mean and saw the scars but didn’t listen when I said to not enter her room idk why?). After 5 years, my dad took her away somewhere and didn’t tell me what he did. I miss her and hope she wasn’t put down and taken in by people who understand her. 😢 I figured out her possible problem after watching My Cat from Hell over a decade later and figured it was a mental issue as she just flipped a switch one day with no rhyme or reason. Now 20 years later I have a girl who is the complete opposite and has been a perfect cat. Had her for 11 years now and she’s still an angel.❤
